The Seraphic System

The Seraphic System

Chapter: 120

(The Greeks - part 2)

-{Hades}-

Hades sat alone in his throne room, fingers resting against the armrest of his seat.

The palace was quiet. Persephone was in the gardens, which meant he had nothing but silence and his own thoughts for company. He had wanted to speak with Kai again.

The boy had intrigued him during their first meeting, which was a year ago now. A blink in the eyes of a god. Back when tensions had been so high amongst them over the robbery of their divine weapons.

The angel who had come into his realm and threatened him.

Hades shook his head.

It had been Kai's status as an angel that had stopped him from being outright killed back then. And he was ever so glad he had stayed his hand.

When he had felt the disturbance at Mount Othrys, he had been taken off guard. That brief flare of amassed power, the kind only a prolonged battle could produce, had sent a jolt of shock coursing through him.

Even more shocking was the presence.

Yahweh had been there.

He was sure of it.

Then he had found Kai at the centre of it all. The boy's power had exploded in a mere year, and he had been in the midst of the chaos.

It had seemed like the perfect excuse to investigate.

He had been wanting to establish contact with Heaven since meeting Kai. Hades didn't generally consider alliances with anyone. Gods feared death. It was their nature. That fear made any partnership with him uncomfortable at best and impossible at worst.

But something had felt different with Kai. Different from his memories of Azrael, back when dealings between their factions had been more common.

Still, this thought hadn't come without prompting.

Truth be told, he had been offered a position within the higher ranks of the Khaos Brigade.

Even worse was the temptation of it.

Hades knew better, of course. You didn't build an organisation like that without an absurd endgame at its foundation. There would be a price, and Hades wanted nothing to do with paying it.

But he had no doubt they would eventually target him. Those who refused to join tended to become obstacles. And obstacles tended to be removed.

He wouldn't shrink from that confrontation if it came. He was still one of the Big Three, still the ruler of the largest realm in existence.

Yet for all his pride, an alliance of multiple gods and god-killers wasn't something to take lightly. The Brigade had resources. Members from every faction who had grown tired of the current order.

This left his options thin.

His brothers were unreliable. The Devils he would refuse to even contact. The Fallen were the same, while Hel gave the impression she was already a part of it.

Ereshkigal was struggling without Hades's need to put more pressure on her.

Arawn and Donn hadn't been in contact for centuries.

All of this made his immediate decision.

The added benefit had been sensing Hermes approaching on the orders of Zeus. His nephew had probably been halfway there when Hades had snatched the entire group out from under his nose. The thought brought a thin smile to his lips.

As for Kai himself...

Hades drummed his fingers faster.

Michael. Gabriel. Azrael.

The Sword of Heaven. The Messenger of God. The Angel of Death herself.

All of them flanking one supposedly unremarkable angel, like he was the most precious thing in creation.

A new Seraph, perhaps? That would explain the protection detail. Heaven was notoriously paranoid about its rising stars. But it didn't explain everything else.

Had Yahweh finally produced a prince?

An heir?

But even that theory had holes.

Gabriel. Heaven's most beautiful. The one angel that every god with eyes had noticed at some point. Zeus had made overtures. Of course, he had. Poseidon, too, though he had been more subtle about it.

Both had been rebuffed. Firmly.

Yahweh had made his displeasure known in ways that even Zeus couldn't ignore. After that, the Olympians had learned to admire from a distance.

And yet Gabriel had been practically draped over Kai. While Azrael had been looking at him with eyes that held more warmth than Hades had ever seen from an Archangel.

The pieces didn't fit together correctly.

Hades supposed he would have to wait for now.

Though an idea did form.

Perhaps he could invite Kai to the upcoming summit for the various gods of Death. It would allow him to get a better view of him and maybe even get Azrael to accompany him.

For now...

A particularly angry strike of lightning hit his borders.

It would appear his brother wasn't happy.

-{Kai}-

The sub-dimension welcomed us back with its usual warmth. The spiritual energy they passively released rushed upon us as we arrived.

I released a breath.

Well. That had been exciting.

Beyond the meeting with Hades, fighting a Titan King to near death ranked among my worst choices. I couldn’t say it had been a failed endeavour, considering the sheer amount of rewards I had obtained and the enemies that had been put back in their place.

The Mortal Cup. An orb that would allow for a Zanpakuto. Then, my first transcendent reward was a mysterious, self-transforming piece of armour.

Even one legendary item had proven itself to be a major item, some just below the existence of a Longinus sacred gear. While I remained unsure what made the new reward of the transcendent rank, I felt excited to find out.

Percy and Annabeth stood awkwardly near the entrance. They shifted their weight from foot to foot, unsure of what to do now that the chaos had ended.

“Well, that was fun.” Percy chuckled weakly. “Sorry again for pulling you into that mess.”

“Don’t apologise,” I said, earning myself two flat looks. “I intended on going after them either way. Don’t make any mistakes, Perce. We won this encounter, and while it succeeded less than our plan before, we still won.”

We had planned to retreat and call in backup from Heaven.

Then I had intended to return, since I refused to leave such a threat to Hestia and Aphrodite alive. It was a bonus that this marked another failed attempt by the Khaos Brigade to release more sealed entities.

Percy smirked. “In that case, you’re welcome.”

He winced under the annoyed stare from Gabriel and Azrael.

Annabeth laughed. “It would be nice if we could meet under better circumstances, preferably without Percy’s ridiculous quests.”

Percy nodded his head. His green eyes glinted with annoyance.

“So is this it then?” Percy questioned. “At least we managed to finish the quest, though I really need to learn to stop doing whatever Chiron tells me to do.”

His chuckle sounded weak.

“Thank you,” Annabeth said quietly. “For everything. We wouldn’t have succeeded without your help, and I couldn’t leave this fish brain to accidentally insult a god or something reckless.”

“Kai did it as well,” Percy exclaimed.

Gabriel showed no amusement.

Annabeth ignored him. A downtrodden look passed between the two of them.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said flatly. “You can come to Heaven when you want. I just figured you guys would want some downtime.”

Percy and Annabeth perked up.

“Before, I stayed busy. Honestly, I remained stuck in Heaven for quite a while due to reasons, and then I found myself busy at almost every moment.” I shrugged. “You guys can visit if you want. I know Medusa or Nyxera would love to see you.”

Percy blinked. “Visit? Like, up here?”

“That’s generally what visiting means.”

“I didn’t know that was an option,” Annabeth said.

“It is now.” I grinned tiredly.

Some of the tension left his shoulders. Annabeth’s posture softened as well.

“I’ll hold you to that,” Percy said, managing a grin. “The visiting thing. Not sure how Chiron’s going to react to me casually popping up to Heaven, but whatever.”

“I’m sure he’ll adjust.”

“Yeah, in that case, I guess we will pray for you? We will have to tell everyone we aren’t dead and stop the other quests.” Percy replied, scratching his head.

Annabeth nodded rapidly. “I can’t imagine how many Demigods have died from this.”

I opened a portal back to Camp Half-Blood. The shimmering gateway revealed the familiar hills and cabins in the distance.

I frowned.

“Percy,” I called.

“Hm?” Percy turned.

“Take Greg with you,” I said, using the downright atrocious name for the god-slaying Shikigami.

Percy beamed. “Greg!”

Greg picked himself up, fully healed and rising to his full height. Then he slowly walked through the portal.

Gabriel’s eyes flickered towards me, then back towards Percy, softly. “Allow me to provide you with a boon.”

She pulled out a vial. “I had intended on handing this to you, as a friend of my-Kaiel.”

I looked curiously at the change of voice.

Percy stared at her for a moment, a blush creeping to his cheeks while he took the vial, quickly glancing down to inspect what was inside its confines.

“With your ability to manipulate water, this will allow you to use it for healing purposes and anti-dark powers with its high density in purification,” Gabriel revealed.

I sent her a look of surprise, to which she turned away slightly.

“T-thank you,” Percy said gratefully, taken aback by the thoughtful gift. “I appreciate it a lot, and I’ll put it to good use. Especially since it’s from Kai’s girlfriend.”

Gabriel somehow found herself blushing.

“Much better than that nectar shi-“

Annabeth interjected. “What Percy means to say is thank you, Lady Gabriel.”

She beamed.

We said our goodbyes and promised to meet them in a few days… with a proper escort.

I stared at their backs for a moment.

It almost felt anticlimactic. I let the portal close behind them and turned back to survey the sub-dimension.

Maybe that lacked the correct word. I had just fought a Titan King. Perhaps it was because Michael was with me. Yeah, I would have died instantly without him.

Galadriel lay coiled nearby. Her serpentine body curled into a tight spiral as she slept. The golden branches that had sprouted during her evolution had receded. They left only faint traces along her scales.

I made a mental note about Ladon. The dragon had remained sealed in its prison, but when I had checked on it earlier, one of the hundred heads had vanished completely.

Eaten.

Gluttonous snake.

I didn’t have time to dwell on that further.

Gabriel took that chance to finally envelop me, her arms coming to wrap around my torso in a grip that would have crushed a normal human. While wings folded around us both, creating a cocoon of white feathers and warmth.

“Gabriel-” I exclaimed, slightly surprised.

Then I found my words unable to come out of my mouth. The sheer comfort that enveloped me almost sucked the energy out of me. She didn’t say anything, merely holding on for dear life.

Michael laughed from somewhere to my left. The sound rang lighter than I had heard from him since leaving Heaven. The tension that had coiled in his frame since the battle finally began to ease.

"I suppose that went as well as could have been hoped for," Michael said. "Though I had hoped for lesser obstacles."

Gabriel’s wings moved as she settled on the comfortable grass.

Azrael stood apart, watching the display passively, her silver eyes taking in the scene. Then, hesitantly, she moved closer. Her hand came to rest on my shoulder. The touch felt awkward but genuine.

Naturally, I couldn’t allow that.

Watching Azrael and Gabriel come to my side so quickly to defend me never failed to warm my heart. It was a good time as well. Fighting Ladon wouldn’t have been easy in the slightest.

Learning that I had also damaged my soul was worrying, even if it was offset by the fact that it could be healed with the Holy Grail and the help of Azrael.

I pulled her into a hug with a roll of my eyes.

Much to my amusement, she practically fell atop me. She could have easily resisted, even if I wasn’t as beaten up as I was right now.

“I wouldn’t say this went well in the slightest,” Gabriel said, her emerald eyes glinting fiercely. “I knew we should have at the very least gone along with you.”

Yeah, I wasn’t trying the stealth path again. I suppose a part of that residual part of me that was a loner hadn’t wanted to put anyone in danger due to the warpath I was on.

Michael raised his hands. “The decision is not mine.”

Gabriel looked at me softly.

“Lesson learned,” I stated.

"Indeed, this force has proven itself worthy of attention, with the close attempt in the Labyrinth." Michael's fist clenched at his side. "Playing around with demonic powers is always a dangerous endeavour. Truly, I should have been more vigilant in the face of such demonic influence.”

That reminded me of Pan, the corrupted god we had stumbled upon in the Labyrinth.

In the same effect, Gabriel and Azrael both stiffened up.

But Michael blaming himself was something I wouldn’t stand.

"You were vigilant," I found myself saying despite her keen attention on me. "You caught Pan before he could do any more damage. You took on two super-class contenders simultaneously. You went beyond what anyone could have expected."

I paused. “Again, it only shows that the Khaos Brigade has rapidly spread under everyone’s notice, and they don’t intend on stopping. I was naive and attempting to catch them off-guard; there will be no more need for that.”

"What's this?" Azrael's voice cut through, sharp and cold. "What attempt in the Labyrinth?"

Thus, I allowed Michael to explain the situation.

The reaction was immediate.

I was rounded upon before I could protest, Gabriel's hands pressing against my chest while golden light poured into me. She looked down at me with concern, her golden hair spilling over me.

Azrael kneeled beside her, silver eyes blazing as she scanned every inch of my form.

An amount of holy power sufficient to purify miles of land for years flooded through my system.

I felt it run through my veins, scouring for any trace of demonic corruption, any lingering taint that might have taken root.

Gabriel sighed. "Seriously, Kaiel. At the very least, you could have brought Azrael or me.”

"On the bright side, we did gain a lot from this," I offered instead.

Gabriel's expression remained unimpressed. "Oh?"

"We stopped a major ally of the Khaos Brigade from being freed. We raided two bases and disrupted whatever they were using them for. We rescued Artemis and put Atlas back in his prison. We confirmed the Khaos Brigade's involvement and their connection to the devils." I tried.

Gabriel remained unimpressed.

Azrael was pensive, her fingers tapping against her arm. She appeared to come to her own decision with a nod.

Michael on the other hand nodded right up until Gabriel rounded upon him with a passive stare.

It was always funny to watch the ancient Arch-Angels act so childish in a sense. It felt like something only an Angel could achieve, even knowing that down underneath they were a lot smarter, stronger and tactful than me.

The current me anyway.

That was a few minutes of talking before Michael finally smiled once more. “Now that everything is finished," Michael said, rising to his feet from where he had been kneeling, "I should probably alert everyone to the situation.”

The other Seraphim would want to know what happened. Raphael would fuss over my condition. Uriel would ask a thousand questions about the battle. Metatron and Sandalphon would want tactical reports.

And all of them would be clingy for the coming days.

"Go ahead." I replied. "I don’t plan on leaving Heaven any time soon. You did a good job Michael.”

The General of Heaven, sword of God and leader of Heaven for hundreds of years looked away, a blush rising to his cheeks.

“Thank you Father. It was… enjoyable to spend time together.” Michael said, as if he hadn’t just fought one of the biggest battles the Greeks had seen on their territory for a while.

He vanished, leaving only a feather behind as he simply disappeared from view.

The silence that followed felt comfortable.

I took a moment to truly relax.

Azrael said nothing, but her hand tightened slightly on my shoulder.

A thought occurred to me then. A rather mischievous thought that made the corner of my lips twitch upward.

I reached into my inventory.

The tree materialised before us in a shimmer of golden light. It stood about twelve metres tall, its branches laden with gleaming apples that radiated divine energy. The bark was smooth and pale, almost white, and the leaves rustled despite the absence of wind.

Hera's wedding present.

The tree that grew the golden apples of immortality.

Gabriel blinked. "Kaiel, what is that?”

“The Sacred Apple Tree.” I replied vaguely.

A rare display of surprise from the Angel of Death. "You took a tree that grows golden fruits of immortality?”

"I liberated it from an unstable environment." I corrected. "Kronos was there. Things were exploding. I saw an opportunity."

"..."

"I can just blame it on Kronos if anyone asks."

Gabriel stared at me. Then at the tree. Then back at me.

I grinned.

All the while Azrael smirked. “A fitting reward for dealing with their issues.”

“Don’t encourage it sister.” Gabriel lamented. “While I do believe a reward is in order, it’d be better if that didn’t come at the cost of making a pantheon of enemies.”

“If the Greeks wish to find death, then they shall have it.” Azrael replied distantly.

The eversoft and lovely Gabriel nodded as if that was a known fact.

“But there'll be more to deal with and Kaiel might take it upon himself.” Gabriel pouted.

I deserved that.

Ah it was good to be home.

I paused for a moment. Damn. I really was stealing from the Greeks and Sumerian at this point. The Tablet of Destiny. Primordial energy batteries. And now the golden apple tree itself. Along with Aphrodite and Heracles.

At least I was consistent.

And it was their fault for becoming so involved with me.

I moved to plant it near the Two Trees.

The soil here was rich with spiritual energy, blessed by Laurelin and Telperion. If any place could nurture Hera's tree, it would be this one.

My hands pressed the roots into the earth. The tree settled, its branches swaying gently as it acclimated to its new home.

I reached up to pluck one of the golden apples.

Gabriel was next to me inspecting the tree.

“What do you intend to do with it?” She asked curiously.

“Find out how it works.” I responded immediately. “This goes beyond just a blessing after all. The ability to make someone into a god is nothing short of powerful.”

Then the Two Trees moved.

Massive roots erupted from the ground, coiling around Hera's tree with a speed that left me frozen in place. Golden and silver bark wrapped around the pale trunk, drawing it closer to the twin giants.

The tree vanished.

Absorbed entirely into the combined mass of Laurelin and Telperion.

Not a single branch remained. Not a single leaf. Not even a trace of the divine energy that had radiated from its fruit.

Just… Gone.

“…”

I stared incomprehensibly.

Gabriel covered her mouth and looked away.

“Azrael… get the axe.”

Azrael tilted her head.

I marched up to one of the massive trees.

“Spit that out now!” I demanded.

I didn’t actually know if it could understand but I knew the two trees had some form of consciousness. So they better utilise it to understand.

Gabriel burst out into laughter and even Azrael cracked a smile.

“It’s not funny.” I said pitifully.

Gabriel wrapped her arms around me, still laughing.

I wanted to pull my hair out.

In truth, it wouldn’t have been able to be used much anyway. From what I had seen it took fifty years to a century to grow a singular apple. But there had been six other apples on its branches!

I let out a long sigh. “That would have helped and now this gluttonous tree has eaten it.”

“Perhaps they needed it more than you did." She offered, amusement colouring her voice.

"They're trees. What could they possibly need golden apples for?" I grouched. “Isn’t this cannibalism?”

"Growth?" Azrael suggested. Her tone remained flat, but I caught the glimmer of humour in her silver eyes.

I groaned, then fell back.

The two of them took turns soothing my wounded pride. Gabriel's fingers ran through my hair in slow, gentle strokes. Azrael sat beside us, her presence somehow just as comforting as Gabriel's warmth.

It helped.

More than I wanted to admit.

The minutes stretched into something longer. The tension that had been coiled in my chest since the battle finally began to unwind.

I sat up.

“I suppose it’s not a complete loss.” I relented. “I can still study the Apple and hope this has gained something beyond a satisfied pair of trees.”

Gabriel kissed my cheek.

I could tell she wanted to do more, but held out in Azrael’s presence.

“But you’ve received other things, right?”

I looked at her in surprise.

She gave me a little smile. “I know you by now, you’ve got that look. What has manifested this time?”

The annoyance was still there, in the deep place only we had shared but for now she was content to spend time with me.

I opened my mouth to respond, only to be interrupted.

Currently we were standing close by to the small river at the base of the two trees, the mansion stood far in the distance with a surprising lack of anybody there for a chance.

Besides the rushing figure that came towards us.

My eyes had just begun to drift closed when I felt a shift in the air.

A familiar warmth approached.

"Kai!"

Hestia appeared at the edge of the grove, her orange eyes wide with worry. Her dark hair was disheveled, as if she had rushed here the moment she heard.

She probably had.

Gabriel's wings parted, allowing me to move up.

The movement sent a dull ache through my body, but I ignored it.

Hestia crossed the distance between us in moments. She stopped just short of me, her hands hovering as if afraid to touch.

"I heard what happened." Her voice trembled slightly. "Michael told me and I came as fast as I could!”

"Hestia."

She stopped.

"I'm fine."

She narrowed her eyes, the two gentle flames a roaring inferno that whipped about in the air dangerously.

“Fighting my Father just hours ago is not ‘fine’.” Hestia said placidly.

I paused for a second. Hestia’s face was contorted into a mix of worry and something else, her burning eyes somehow radiating the distress she felt.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She pursed her lips. “Don’t change the topic Kai, this is serious. I knew you were investigating, which I learnt after you left, but this goes beyond that.”

Gabriel and Azrael exchanged a glance. Some silent communication passed between them.

Then Gabriel rose, her wings folding against her back.

"We'll give you two a moment." She said softly.

Azrael followed, though not before casting one last look in my direction. A look that promised our conversation wasn't finished.

Then they were gone.

I almost appreciated it. While they had almost become like sisters to Hestia, a fact that had made Hestia spend the majority of her time in Heaven.

It had just occurred that being told that your father, the very one who had eaten you, was back and had just fought with a close friend was probably more than worrying.

How to go about this.

-{Hestia}-

Hestia stood before Kai, her heart pounding against her ribs in a way she hadn't felt in centuries or perhaps even further than that, being a Goddess had long since made her forget this feeling.

Especially with her seclusion in comparison to the many other gods.

Much to her astonishment, the Goddess of the Hearth had to admit, she felt shaken.

The moment Michael had told her what happened, something cold had gripped her chest and refused to let go. A familiar feeling. An old feeling. One she hadn’t experienced in so long.

All her loved ones were powerful.

Zeus, Poseidon and Hades ran the Greek Pantheon. While Hera and Demeter had found themselves in powerful positions. Enough that wars would break over their displeasure.

All the while, the eldest daughter of Kronos found herself relegated. Partially due to her rejection in Zeus’ and Poseidon’s desire to bed her. It wasn’t hostile, but it had insulted their pride. While many others forgot about her.

It wasn’t pitiful or sad.

She had friends in Artemis.

But there had been loneliness.

It took a lot to make her truly surprised, but there was a name that had always stayed with her. The one she had watched eat her from birth and had spent so long in the belly of.

Kronos.

The name alone made her stomach turn. The memories that accompanied it were worse. Darkness. Confinement. The sensation of being swallowed whole, of existing in a void where time meant nothing and escape was impossible.

She had been a child when it happened. A newborn goddess consumed by her own father because of a prophecy. Because he feared what his children might become.

Hestia had never spoken of it.

Not to Zeus, who had freed them. Not to her siblings, who had long since dealt with the trauma it had inflicted upon them. She had simply chosen to be kind.

To tend the hearth. To provide warmth and comfort to others because she knew what it felt like to have neither.

And then Kai had appeared in her life.

She thought back to before.

The endless years of existing on the fringes of Olympian politics, ignored and overlooked because she posed no threat and offered no drama. The loneliness that had become so familiar she had stopped recognising it as loneliness at all.

Then there had been Heaven.

Gabriel, Azrael and all the angels had welcomed her with open arms.

The Angels treated her with genuine respect, not the dismissive courtesy her own family offered.

She had always wondered upon the Angels, a Faction built by a true family. That had become even more curious when she had met the Angel who felt lost, without a home or anyone to love.

She had friends now. A place where she belonged that wasn't defined by her usefulness or her willingness to stay out of the way. Most of all, she had gained twelve children.

And Kai.

He had given her all of that. He had looked at her and seen something worth knowing. The feelings had crept up on her slowly. At first she had dismissed them as gratitude.

Then as admiration. Then as something deeper that she couldn't quite name. By the time she recognised it for what it was, it had already taken root too deeply to remove.

She was in love with him.

And he had gone to fight her father without telling her.

"Hestia?" Kai's voice pulled her back to the present.

She looked at him properly for the first time since arriving.

He was ragged. His clothes were new and yet stained with blood that she hoped wasn't all his. Exhaustion lined his features, pulling at the corners of his eyes and weighing down his shoulders.

But he was still beautiful.

That golden hair catching the light from the Two Trees. The way he looked at her now, curious and concerned, with an emotion beneath it that made her breath catch.

"You didn't tell me." She sighed.

"I know."

"You went to fight him and you didn't tell me."

"I know." He repeated.

Hestia stared at him.

"Do you understand why I'm upset?" Hestia asked, her tone clipped as her burning eyes stared into his own.

Kai was quiet for a moment. His gaze never left hers.

"I imagine it’s close to why Gabriel was annoyed at me.” Kai said carefully. “Though I imagine it was due to Kronos as well.”

She frowned. “I’d be concerned either way. It’s just slightly more personal.”

Hestia contained a shiver at memories that poured into her mind unbidden, composing her outward body with ease as she stared up at Kai.

“If it helps I didn’t know that was quite what I was walking into. Though I had suspected Atlas.” Kai said truthfully.

“That doesn’t make it any better. Atlas isn’t a joke.” Hestia replied insistently.

“… I admit having Michael may have made me a bit too confident.” He offered.

She sighed. “I’m glad you’re back, tell me. Is my Father alive?”

She kept a blank face, an apparent giveaway as Kai frowned. In an almost in Kai fashion, he had somehow managed to sense what most shouldn’t be able to. He moved forward. His hands came up to cup her face gently.

“You don’t need to worry about it. He’s been taken care of. Despite the damages this was a big win for us.”

Hestia’s eyes widened. “Michael defeated him?”

His face turned sour. “No I did, Michael took care of Atlas and a Devil that interfered.”

“You fought him?” Hestia asked strangely.

“Yeah…” He answered hesitantly.

She bit her lips, unsure of how to feel about that.

He smiled at her. “So don’t worry about him. The damage to me isn’t permanent and while I can’t say I enjoyed it, it was definitely worth it.”

She grimaced.

“I am not a flower. I could have helped.” Hestia relented. “Especially in a Greek domain.”

She felt her Roman counterpart giggle in her mind.

They had been combined for a while now, though that side of her sometimes took the chance to separate just for little moments like this.

Hestia stared at him, her senses faded as she visualised the strings of relationships. A line formed between them, or rather it was revealed to her sight.

A strong thread of energy hung between them, spiralling orange lines wrapping over each other in a close spiral of energy. The line that tethered to her soul was noticeably glowing in comparison, brighter than the other but not too far off.

She stared at the tether for a few seconds.

It had been a while since she had checked out for fear of what she may see.

“I know you could.” Kai affirmed.

Hestia leant up, catching his lips in a kiss that lasted quickly and admiring his look of surprise.

She merely tapped a finger to his lips as he attempted to speak once more.

-{Kai}-

I looked down at the two women sleeping beside me.

The soft light of the sub-dimension still shone in the sky from our position atop a hillside. The lush grass against our backs felt as comfortable as a bed.

After that chat with Hestia, I found myself promptly lying down once more. Followed by Gabriel they had both insisted I rest… without going back to my room.

To my surprise, they had both fallen asleep in my arms, and I had very nearly followed them.

I carefully extracted myself from the tangle of limbs.

Gabriel's wings twitched at my movement, but didn't wake. Hestia mumbled something unintelligible and curled tighter into the warm spot I had left behind.

I smiled at the sight before turning my attention to other matters.

That left my rewards.

I moved a short distance away, settling against one of the smaller trees that dotted the sub-dimension. Close enough to keep an eye on the sleeping pair, far enough to focus without distraction.

The Zanpakuto Spirit Infusion Orb came first. I examined it in my palm, feeling the condensed potential thrumming within. This would require careful consideration.

The sword it bonded with would become a reflection of my inner world. Choosing the wrong weapon wouldn't be any good.

Perhaps Michael? I dared to think about what that insane sword of his would become with the addition of it becoming a Zanpakuto.

I set it aside for now.

The Mortal Cup gleamed softly as I pulled it from my inventory.

A crystal clear liquid gently moved within.

Ten uses per day.

The applications for the Church were obvious, but there were other possibilities to consider. It was basically Evil Pieces for the Angels.

This… this alone would have made it worth it. The thought came about with a new flurry of excitement.

What happened when a typical, trusted exorcist became an Angel? How many were loyal to the church but were unnoticed due to a lack of power? What would becoming a half-Angel entail?

Humans were unfairly weak; without help or some magical bloodline, there was a limit.

I’d have to bring this up with Raphael.

That too was set aside.

That left the Golem of Eden.

My first Transcendent reward.

I pulled up the full description.

[Golem of Eden] [Transcendent]

[Description: A colossal golem crafted in the image of Adam, the first man, representing the pinnacle of Eden's power. Standing at over 30 metres tall, this construct is not merely a familiar but a soul-bound Golem that can grow infinitely with its user.]

My eyes travelled down towards the abilities section.

[Soul Shield: The Golem can be stored within the bearer's soul, providing passive protection against soul-based attacks. While stored, it acts as a secondary barrier that must be breached before the soul itself can be damaged.]

[Armoured Form: The Golem can transform into a suit of armour adaptable to the host's physique. In this form, the bearer gains enhanced physical capabilities and access to a portion of the Golem's abilities.]

[Earthen Restoration: The Golem can repair itself infinitely when in contact with natural earth. The rate of regeneration scales with the purity of the soil and the presence of natural energy in the environment.]

[Garden's Blessing: The Golem passively enhances plant growth within a moderate radius. Crops grow faster, medicinal herbs become more potent, and barren soil slowly regains fertility over time.]

[Eden’s Spirit: When deployed in an area with high concentrations of holy or natural energy, the Golem's power increases proportionally. Sacred grounds, blessed forests, and locations touched by divine creation amplify its capabilities.]

[Verdant Command: The Golem can manipulate plant matter within its immediate vicinity. This allows for the creation of barriers, entangling roots, or platforms from existing vegetation. Cannot create plant matter from nothing.]

[Forbidden Memory: The Golem retains a fragment of Eden's original design. When deployed, it can slowly purify corrupted land, cleansing demonic taint and restoring natural balance over extended periods. This process is gradual and cannot be rushed.]

I read through the abilities twice, then a third time.

There were many other smaller abilities displayed with it, abilities I read through.

This was exactly what I needed.

The soul protection alone made it invaluable.

A passive barrier against future harm was reassuring. The armour form solved my lack of defensive equipment. And the nature-based abilities synergised perfectly with my existing projects.

Forbidden Memory could potentially help us with the corrupted god Pan we found in the Labyrinth. Verdant Command offered battlefield control that I currently lacked.

It wasn't overwhelmingly powerful on its own. The limitations were real and significant. But as part of my growing arsenal, it filled gaps I hadn't even realised existed.

Just what would it do to my Mokuton? Could I use it to channel the two trees while I fought?

My mind switched to my next download, which should be done soon. Perhaps after that, I could focus on something truly broken? It had been a while since I had done so.

I was about to dismiss the screen and try out my new armour when another notification caught my attention, reminding me about the most significant issue at hand.

The Mark of Kronos.

-{Aphrodite}-

The meeting had been called urgently.

Aphrodite could tell by the way Zeus sat upon his throne, lightning crackling through his beard with more intensity than usual.

That was to say he was purposely putting on a show.

By the tension in Athena's shoulders as she reviewed whatever reports had been compiled. By the way Poseidon actually looked awake for once, his sea-green eyes focused even as he lounged on his throne.

Something had happened.

She didn't particularly care what.

Aphrodite knew she was probably barely accepted as of now.

Word had spread of her desire to leave and of her preparations. To say it wasn’t received well would be an understatement.

She shifted in her throne, letting her thoughts drift to more pleasant subjects. That golden hair catching the light. Those eyes that held depths she wanted to explore.

The way he had looked at her when they first met, not with the desperate lust most beings showed her, but with genuine interest.

Aphrodite felt the connection to her domain with a soft smile. The connection had grown, her power had risen slightly, and most of all, a new domain skill had developed in the last month.

Aphrodite knew what was happening, as she knew that Kai had found himself surrounded by women with the same feelings.

She was the Goddess of Love.

And yet here she was, daydreaming about an angel who planned to take her in while Zeus prepared to deliver whatever doom-laden announcement had prompted this gathering.

"I have called you here because of the events at Mount Othrys." Zeus's voice boomed across the chamber. "What I am about to reveal does not leave this room."

Aphrodite suppressed a yawn.

"Kronos has returned."

The chamber went silent.

Aphrodite's attention snapped into focus.

Around her, the other gods had gone rigid with shock. Even Poseidon looked genuinely alarmed, his casual demeanour evaporating in an instant.

Demeter shared a look with Zeus.

"That shouldn’t be possible," Athena said flatly. "He was placed in Hades domain, and I doubt he has turned on us.”

"He hasn’t fully risen." Zeus cut her off. "Our father was using a host body rather than manifesting in his true form, but the power was unmistakable. I sensed it myself before the barriers went up."

"Barriers?" Poseidon leaned forward.

"What barriers?" Hermes inquired, abnormally silent.

"Someone erected a concealment around the entire mountain. Powerful enough to block even my sight for a time." Zeus's jaw tightened with obvious displeasure, while strangely, he looked away.

"By the time it fell, the battle was already over."

"Battle?" Athena's eyes narrowed. "Who was fighting Kronos?"

"Angels." Artemis cut in.

The previously absent Goddess had arrived, looking worse for wear.

“Daughter.” Zeus greeted. “It is good to see you back.”

“Sister.” Apollo stood up. “It is good to see you again.”

“Brother,” Artemis replied in a clipped tone.

“I see,” Athena said. “You were captured all this time?”

“I was.” Artemis glared.

"Heaven interfered in Greek affairs?" Poseidon's voice carried a dangerous edge. "On what authority?"

"That remains unclear." Zeus drummed his fingers against his throne. "But I caught a glimpse of those involved before the secondary barrier was erected. Michael was present. As was Azrael."

Aphrodite felt something cold begin to creep through her chest.

"And another." Zeus continued. "The Angel Kai. The one who has been involved repeatedly in our affairs over the past year."

Her heart lurched with worry.

"What happened to them?" The words escaped before she could stop them.

Every head in the chamber turned toward her. Aphrodite never participated in strategic discussions. Her sudden interest was clearly unexpected.

Zeus raised a curious look but answered regardless. "They survived, as far as I could determine. The Angel Kai appeared to be at the centre of whatever occurred."

"And Kronos?" Athena pressed, redirecting attention away from Aphrodite's outburst. "What became of him?"

"Sealed," Artemis said, the word leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

"How?" Poseidon asked. "The original seal required every Olympian working in unison.”

“Are you forgetting who we are speaking of?” Athena questioned. “The Black Death and the Sword of Heaven were spotted-“

“Along with the Lady Gabriel.” Artemis corrected.

“-they are more than capable.”

Zeus grunted.

Aphrodite's hands gripped the arms of her throne.

"There's more." Artemis stepped forward.

“Kronos wasn't acting alone."

"Explain," Zeus commanded.

"An organisation called the Khaos Brigade. They've been operating across multiple pantheons, recruiting disaffected gods and working to release sealed threats." Artemis crossed her arms. "Atlas was involved as well. He escaped his bonds as part of their operation."

"Two Titans?" Athena's voice was curious. "Working together?"

"At least two.”

“Make that three,” Poseidon said. “Hades sent word that Iapetus was discovered hiding in the Fields of Asphodel."

Zeus glared. “I haven’t heard of such word.”

“It was only sent half an hour ago. I had assumed this was why the meeting was called.” Poseidon replied. “He's been recaptured, but the fact that he escaped at all suggests the problem is larger than we initially believed."

“How about we slow our roll here,” Hermes interjected. “Apollo, what can you see on the matter?”

Apollo paused. “Ehm. Well, here’s the thing.”

Zeus looked on with furrowed brows.

“I can’t see anything,” Apollo stated plainly.

Demeter stared pointedly.

“You can’t see anything?”

“It’s more like something is blocking my sight.” Apollo quickly corrected.

“So these enemies are somehow blocking your sight?” Zeus asked, unimpressed.

“Yes,” Apollo affirmed.

There was a silence.

Perhaps it wasn’t a big deal to any outsider with the amassed power of the Olympians, but Apollo had used his sight for thousands of years to predict events or give insights at the very least accurately.

Until now.

“Fates.” Zeus declared.

A strike of divine lightning blazed through the sky, tearing apart reality with its fall.

A space opened, and from within it the three Fates floated out.

“Fates,” Zeus said. “Tell me, why does Apollo’s sight fail?”

They didn’t answer.

Poseidon snickered.

Zeus’ nostrils flared. “Well?”

“Doom approaches in blinding crimson. Beware of the wrath of the firstborn son. Gap opens and emerges Wisdom. The gap opens and emerges Wisdom.”

Aphrodite nearly choked.

Wasn’t that the prophecy that led Zeus to eat Metis, and also what was given when Athena emerged from his head?

Zeus paled.

The fates vanished.

There was silence until the King of Olympus recovered.

“Fates!” Zeus shouted, his eyes crackling. “Do not leave these chambers!”

Zeus attempted to look dignified in the face of the multiple gods watching him.

“This is not the time for such petty games. Your assistance would be… appreciated.” Zeus said reluctantly. “At least give us a clue of what is to come.”

Divine power flared, a single rift forming and collapsing on itself in the same moment to deliver a small note.

Zeus attempted to hide his proud smile, which turned into confusion.

With her keen sight, she was able to make out the singular sketch of an apple.

“An apple?” Zeus voiced.

The doors burst open.

Hera stood at the entrance, her divine power wafting from her. The two points that served as her eyes were pure white due to the sheer concentration of divine energy.

“Where is it?” She stated coldly, the question was not a question at all.

“Wife. I don’t believe this is the time-“ Zeus tried.

“WHERE IS MY WEDDING GIFT?” Hera’s voice boomed.

“What?” Zeus faltered for a split second.

“My apple tree is gone from the garden of Hesperides!” Hera scowled, the beautiful Goddess’ visage twisted in rage.

Zeus had a realisation at that moment, but couldn’t voice it as Hera began shouting at him.

“Where is Aunty Hestia?” Artemis abruptly said. “I can't find her even in Camp Half-Blood or anywhere else.”

The bickering gods ignored her.

Artemis scowled, slapping Apollo’s head.

“Hey!”

“Where’s Hestia?” Artemis questioned.

He scratched his head. “In her palace?”

“She doesn’t have a palace,” Artemis said.

Aphrodite watched the scene passively.

If only the world knew how the Olympians truly were. To think this group could destroy the entire planet if they attempted it.

She shook her head.

-END-

Side-note, what other hidden abilities do you think the Golem Of Eden would have?

If you wish to read up to 19 chapters in advance among my stories and other things, please visit pa/t reon * / Snipez818. I appreciate all the support!